Thursday, October 1, 2009

Review & Giveaway: Rockin' Baby Sling

This giveaway is now closed! Thank you everybody and the winner will be announced soon! Thank you Natasha & Lisa for the GREAT giveaway!

Remember I told you there will be more reviews and giveaways coming soon? Well, today I got a "non-food" one for y'all!

Today I had a great opportunity to try out the Rockin' Baby Organic Sling(Thank you Natasha & Lisa!!) while hanging laundry, walking around town and running errands with my family. My hubby did not have to go to work till later today and it was a good time to try out the sling while out on our "family date". He did a great job taking the pictures (Thanks Babe!) and I am really pleased with how they turned out on the blog. I rated the sling on the scale of 1 (terrible) - 7 (excellent) to give it a fair overall score and you will find that near the bottom of this post. So, with no further ado... let's rock out with the Rockin' Baby Sling!!

Let me share a little bit of what I learned about this cool 2-rock star mom shop based in Los Angeles, CA:

We, here at Rockin’ Baby, get it... moms and dads are busy. We love our babies, but still need to get everything done, and look good doing it. We've been there.

We're STILL there. That's why the two of us, Lisa McDaniel and Natasha Stanton, created the Rockin' Baby Sling back in 2002 when we had our first kids, so parents can do their thing without having to compromise their sense of style. Back when we started our company there weren’t any carriers that were as fashionable as what we wanted to be wearing. We made a few slings for ourselves out of vintage fabrics and funky trims and were constantly stopped by other moms on the streets, in stores, at the post office, at schools, asking where they could get one. Rockin’ Baby was born shortly after that. Since then we’ve added the Rockin’ Baby reversible and adjustable pouch to our line.

As Rockin’ Baby has grown over the years we have found that the most important aspect of making slings and pouches is quality. For that reason we do everything here in Los Angeles where we can be sure of quality control. We make sure that all of our fabrics are made of natural fibers, breathable and of high-quality. They are all pre-washed in natural salt water to set the colors, prevent shrinkage, and soften the fabric. All edges on our slings and pouches are overlocked then seamed twice to ensure no tearing or fraying at the edges. We also use 40 lb weight thread as it increases the strength of the Rockin’ Baby Sling and Pouch. Our reversible slings are made with 5 yards of fabric. Our pouches are fully adjustable and reversible with zippers, and are made with 3 yards of fabric. We have also started making slings and pouches out of 100% organic cotton sateen and poplin, using low impact dyes, in our own exclusive Rockin’ Baby prints.

I am very impressed with their commitment in keeping it local & hands-on. Their slings and pouches are cut and sewn in LA by workers (mostly moms & dads) paid a fair, living wage. All their printing and dyeing of the beautifully designed fabrics are also done in LA. These guys are SERIOUS about the quality of their products:

All of our products are made here in Los Angeles, California, not abroad. As well as having all of our sewing done here by hard-working and well-paid moms and dads, we also source, wash, print, dye and cut here in Los Angeles. Because of this we can be sure of the quality; actually seeing and touching our product, before it is shipped to you.

We make sure that all of our fabrics are made of natural fibers, breathable and of high-quality. They are all pre-washed in natural salt water to set the colors, prevent shrinkage, and soften the fabric.

All edges on our slings and pouches are overlocked then seamed twice to ensure no tearing or fraying at the edges. We also use 40 lb weight thread as it increases the strength of the Rockin’ Baby Sling and Pouch. That means they are really strong.

The Rockin’ Baby Sling and Pouch have also been independently strength tested. The sling has been pull tested up to weights of 1100 pounds before the seams gave way, and the pouch to 460 pounds before the zippers began opening. The rings we use for the Rockin’ Baby Slings are also tested by the manufacturer. Click here to see their ring testing information.

Our reversible slings are made with 5 yards of fabric. Our pouches are fully adjustable via zippers, reversible and made with 3 yards of fabric.

The majority of our slings and pouches are made of 100% cotton sateen or cotton poplin, or of a cotton/ linen blend.

We have also started making slings and pouches out of 100% organic cotton sateen and poplin, using low impact dyes, in our own exclusive Rockin’ Baby prints.

We believe in keeping it local and providing moms and dads with the hippest, safest and highest quality products available.

And their packeting...I love their packeting! The box is made of 99% post-consumer recycled paperboard and printed with vegetable oil-based inks. Their suggestions on what to do with the box is great: recycle it, reuse it by making it into a stage for finger puppet shows, use it as a picture frame (you, baby & the sling) or even search the web for fun ways to reuse the box. These gals are not only environmentally conscious, but they are also socially conscious with their products:

Rockin’ Baby, Inc is a socially conscious company, from our boxes made of recycled paperboard and vegetable based inks, to our new organic line, to our company policies. We strongly believe in giving back to our community. It is our policy to give free sample slings and pouches to doulas, midwives, sling lending libraries, birthing centers and hospitals. We also donate slings and pouches to countless school fundraisers and charities. In addition to our sponsorships, giveaways, and product and monetary donations we give 2% of proceeds from online sales to our favorite charities.

Rockin’ Baby believes in keeping it local and providing moms and dads with the hippest, safest and highest quality products available.

We are firm believers in babywearing – it is wonderful for parent and baby! Please contact us directly for any reason at all! Call us at 888*645*BABY or email us at info@rockinbabysling.com.

You can wear this sling in 5 different ways... cradle hold, snuggle hold, front hold, hip carry & back carry. I tried the hip and back carry positions with Tabi today and she loved it. She played, nursed and slept during the whole time I wore her in the sling. Overall, Tabi seemed very comfortable and happy, but my shoulder started to cramp up a little after a couple hours. I solved that problem by simply switching the sling to my other shoulder. I really enjoyed both ways (hip & back) of carrying her, but preferred the hip position due to comfort and ease.

Jon called my sling the "Super Mama Cape" because of the long fabric that extended down past my knees. Yeah, it is a little long on me because I am short, but I solved that problem by wrapping it once around the ring. The pockets at the end are very roomy and really nice to have for carrying light things (a diaper, small wallet, a toy, etc...). Overall, The fabric is REALLY light and strong, but extremely breathable and soft. Tabi sweats really easily, but she stayed cool and comfortable for the most part while in the sling today. And I am in love with the COLORS! Oh my!! I love the cheery brightness, unique design and reversibility... really does make me feel like a rock star mama walking in style!! LOL!

Many of you might be wondering why I prefer to "wear" Tabi over pushing a stroller... you can read the top 5 reasons from Rockin' Baby, but here are my personal reasons:

Strollers are a real hassle and sometimes difficult to use around town (the curbs here aren't exactly "stroller friendly").

I can easily breastfeed while I am on the move and comfortably.

Great interaction between me and Tabi.

Easier than hauling a carseat around.

Great for going to festivals or the farmer's market because the stroller is harder to maneuver around crowds of people.

Love the bonding experience.

Makes life much simpler.

Great way to get things done outside the house without worrying about a dirty or fussy baby... such as cleaning stalls, taking care of chickens, gardening and playing with Naomi.

In the long run, we saved money using babywearing products (which most are guaranteed to last almost a lifetime!) instead of buying a stroller that is more likely to break down sooner.

There are many other reasons, but I can't think of them all right now. Simply, babywearing has been around for as long as mothers have been having babies. There is so much rich history surrounding babywearing and the benefits are undeniable. Now, before I move on to the giveaway... here are my ratings for the sling:

Ratings: 1 (terrible) - 7 (excellent)

Quality: 7

Style: 7

Ease of use: 6.5

Baby's comfort: 7

My comfort: 4.5

Ability to nurse: 5

Overall score: 6.2 [Very Good!]

Now, The Rockin' Giveaway...

A Rockin' Baby Organic Sling! Why Organic? Rockin' Baby believes that organic fabrics are good for baby and good for the planet. Many people today, concerned about the environment and the effect of chemicals on babies, are choosing to use organic products.

Organics are grown naturally without the use of harmful pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Natural plant extracts and beneficial insects are used to control pests and maintain the health of the soil by avoiding the destruction of beneficial organisms. Organic farming also enchances the fertility of the soil through rotational cropping practices and does not pose hazards to human health. Third-part organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production.

Rockin' Baby has found a way to make organic slings that are beautiful but earth friendly, that are stylish but still support sustainability, that look like they couldn't possibly be organic, but actually are!

How to Enter...

For your first entry, please share with me one good reason why you enjoy babywearing. That's one entry. If you want to increase your chances of winning... please read on below :o)

Remember, if you are already following me and/or Rockin' Baby on twitter, facebook and/or blog... you naturally have 1, 2 or 3 extra entries. Please post a separate comment for EACH entry. You can have a total of 8 entries.

The Rules...

PLEASE, every comment must have an email address. You can comment with your blog account as long as I can contact you through there! The giveaway ends October 17th and is open to those who have US mailing addresses (hint: if you live outside of the US, but still have a US mailing address and a way to get the product to you... you are qualified!).

I love babywearing because as a mother of 5 it gives me free hands! I can hold my baby close all day long and the bonding is priceless.

I have used baby carriers since having our second son. Starting of course with the retail brands. These were so uncomfortable. That with my third child I used it very little. Then I heard of slings and wraps. My world was forever changed. I wore her close all the time. And it did not break my back! This has been so good for all of us. As I am available to help my older kids and can still meet the demanding physical needs of our dear baby.

Slings are a must have for all mamas.

I am so thankful for the priceless time I have had snuggling my baby close.

I value baby wearing because I work full time out of the house, and when I am home with my baby (even at 16 months) I want to be as close to him as possible. From day one, when he was almost 7 weeks early, we were encouraged to have skin to skin contact; and it has never changed. :) I have never heard of this particular sling and am now intrigued!

I love babywearing because I love how it immediately calms my son. He loves being close to me and being held and I love how I can give him that comfort while still being able to do things with my hands.

I like babywearing because it allows me to go over uneven terrain. We like to hike, and it is great when our toddler can join us. The other wonderful thing is, if we run into wildlife (moose/bear), I can keep her safe!

Hm, pls. don't count this if it's a double, but I can't remember if I did the word verification when I said that I love wearing my daughter because I feel close to her while I get work done. Alos, I am due in January and can't wait to baby wear again!

I love babywearing for so many reasons, but none more so than having my baby close to me - just being able to turn my head and put my cheek against theirs or give them a kiss at any moment - ah! fulfam@hotmail.com

I love baby wearing because you always know how the baby is doing because they are right with you. Plus it is nice to be able to throw a load of laundry in etc. with free hands! Thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com

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